CAD Engineer Principal

Principal Cad Engineer

Make meaningful contributions that fuel critical outcomes for some of the most complex government and defense projects. Join GDIT as a Principal CAD Engineer for a career where your growth is just as important as the mission you support. In this hybrid role, you will act as the crucial bridge between our engineering design and field installation teams. Supporting a program dedicated to the deployment of networks for classified and unclassified DoD facilities worldwide, you will ensure that network infrastructure is meticulously planned in the drafting room and flawlessly executed in the field. By speaking the language of both the CAD engineers and the field technicians, you will reduce deployment friction, solve complex site challenges on the fly, and ensure our global installations strictly adhere to design standards.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

• Design & Drafting: Create detailed 2D production drawings, and 3D models (as required) of mechanical, electrical, and network systems to support global deployments. Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor, or similar, and AutoCAD is highly preferred.
• Equipment Installation: Actively participate in and support the physical on-site installation of network hardware, equipment, and cabling at DoD facilities globally.
• Site Surveys & Verification: Conduct extensive site surveys at DoD facilities, Navy vessels, and/or remote facilities to gather data and verify existing configurations prior to deployment. Must have the physical ability to access confined spaces and climb ladders.
• Technical Writing & Documentation: Provide input into the technical writing program by developing technical data packages, writing BESEPs, Site Survey Reports, and SOVTs in accordance with the Shore Installation Process Handbook, DoD/Navy specifications, and training support personnel.
• Configuration Management: Manage the impact of design changes across installation design packages, bills of materials (BOM), and documentation to maintain strict configuration control throughout the installation lifecycle.
• Collaboration & Leadership: Collaborate directly with customers, engineers, and production personnel to optimize designs for field deployment. Conduct risk assessments, participate in design reviews, and mentor junior drafters/installers to ensure standards are met.

What You'll Need To Succeed Bring your CAD expertise, hands-on installation experience, and drive for innovation to GDIT. To succeed in this role, you must have:

• Education: Bachelor of Science, Associate's Degree, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: 10+ years of related experience blending CAD/drafting with field technical support.
• Technical Skills: Proven ability to execute 2D drafting and manage BOMs, combined with hands-on hardware installation and technical writing capabilities. Familiarity with the Shore Installation Process Handbook (SIPH) and System Operating Verification Testing Preparation Execution Guide (SPEG), military specifications (MIL-SPECS) and NAVSEA standards is a plus.
• Role Requirements: This role requires a minimum of 10% global travel to classified and unclassified DoW facilities.
• Security clearance level: Secret
• US citizenship required